It's almost the 4th of July! When you're done overloading on BBQ and return from your Independence Day getaways,
we have some fantastic classes to make your summer the best it can be. On July 9 and 10, Taffy Brodesser-Akner's teaching herSo You Want To Be A Freelancer class on the Westside (she's already helped 16 students get published and paid for their writing--you're next!). On July 13, Jenna Britton will help any of you who are overwhelmed by social media in her Facebook and Twitter 101 class.

Plus on July 15, don't forget to enroll in ourAdult Summer Campwith award-winning novelist and short story writer Maureen McHugh and Emmy-award nominated screenwriters Victor Levin and Michael Saltzman!
Reserve your spot before our camp and other classes are full by
clicking on the links below or emailing marilyn@writingpad.com.

*Classes with an asterix will be held at our Westside location in Culver City!

Writing Prompt: Make a list of your 5 things that come to mind when I say the word, "fireworks!" For instance, you could write down events that you attended that included fireworks (e.g. your friend's 4th of July party where you met that cute guy from Indiana), times when you felt fireworks between you and a special someone, or story ideas that could include fireworks exploding in the background of a scene. Pick one. Add a sensory detail to it
(e.g. smell, taste, sound, touch). Now write for 10 minutes and post
the results in the comments of this blog to be entered into the contest
for a free class at Writing Pad!

Write
about whatever comes to mind when I say "fireworks." Post your
10 minute write in the comments of this blog, and
you could win a free class!

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Now that the month of June is here (and the warm weather is being coy), it's time to switch gears and go on our summer adventures--even if it's only on the page. We have a lot of fun activities planned for June and July including an Adult Summer Camp with award-winning novelist and short story writer Maureen McHugh and Emmy-award nominated screenwriters Victor Levin and Michael Saltzman! Reserve your spot before our camp and other classes are full by clicking on the links below or emailing marilyn@writingpad.com.

*Classes with an asterix will be held at our Westside location in Culver City!

Writing Prompt: Here's a writing prompt to get you summ-imagination going! Make a list of your 3 most memorable moments from the summers of your childhood (e.g. that costume contest you won by wearing your Wonder Woman Underoos to camp, your first kiss at sleep away camp, a backpacking trip with your family to Yosemite where you almost died). Pick one. Add a sensory detail to it (e.g. smell, taste, sound, touch). Now write for 10 minutes and post the results in the comments of this blog to be entered into the contest for a free class at Writing Pad!

Happy summer, everyone!

Write about a summer camp or vacation memory from your childhood. Post your 10 minute write in the comments of this blog, and
you could win a free class!

Sunday, June 3, 2012

We had so many fantastic story submissions for the December/January and February/March comment contest. Below are the contest winners. If you didn't win this last round of contests, please continue commenting on this blog with your wonderful stories and poems. Remember, there is a new contest starting up this month for June/July!

But before we tell you who won a free class at Writing Pad, here are some amazing courses that we have coming up soon on the West and East side of LA. You won't want to miss them! Classes with an * will be held on the Westside of LA.

May I have a drum roll please? Here are the winners of a free class at Writing Pad. The December/January Comment Contest Winner is Mae Alberto!

Congratulations, Mae! We asked the contest winners where they like to write. Mae says, "My favorite place to write is on my big, red shabby chair. I like to
sit in it, 'Indian style,' and I feel like it embraces me like my own
little nook."

That sounds comfy! You can read Mae's wonderful piece about a cooking disaster here.

The winner of the February/March Comment Contest is Kristin Miles Palmer!

Congratulations, Kristin! Kristin says, "My favorite place is write is, oddly, in my car during a long drive. I have a short attention span so the changing landscape keeps me focused. There is no need to worry if you see me on the road though; I forgo the pen and paper for my phone's voice recorder for those 75 mph brainstorming sessions."

That sounds like a great way to maximize your driving time, Kristin! You can read Kristin's charming piece about first love here.

We hope to see you soon either on this blog or at Writing Pad West or East!